What causes pain when you tilt your neck backward? Stiffness in the back, not just the neck, can also be a contributing factor.
It hurts when I tilt my neck back.
When I look up, the back of my neck feels constricted.
My neck hurts when I gargle.
It's difficult to look up at the ceiling.
Do you have any of these concerns?
The movement of tilting your head back may seem like it's done solely by your neck, but in reality, it also involves the movement of your back, chest, and shoulder blades.
Therefore, while massaging only the back of the neck may provide temporary relief, the pain may return in the same way.
Those who spend long hours at a desk or using their smartphones tend to develop a rounded back and stiffness around their chest.
If you try to force your neck backward in this position, the strain will concentrate on the back of your neck, which can lead to pain or a feeling of tightness.
This time, we'll explain the causes of pain when you tilt your neck backward and the points you should consider when seeking chiropractic treatment.
The movement of tilting the neck backward is not just a movement of the neck itself.
The movement of tilting the neck backward is technically called "cervical extension."
However, when you actually look upwards, not only your neck but also your back, rib cage, and shoulder blades move together.
Ideally,
·neck
·back
·rib cage
·rib
・Scapula
The slight movement distributes the strain on the neck.
However, if your back and chest area are stiff, you'll tend to rely solely on your neck to perform upward movements.
As a result, you may experience a feeling of pressure or a constricting pain in the back of your neck.
Cause ① The burden is concentrated on the back of the neck.
If you experience pain when you tilt your head back, it may be because the strain is concentrated on the back of your neck.
In particular, people who habitually jut their necks forward tend to constantly strain the muscles at the back of their necks.
If you look upwards in that position, the back of your neck will contract even further, which can easily lead to pain and a feeling of tightness.
for example,
- When I look upwards, the back of my neck feels constricted.
- The base of my neck feels heavy.
- Apply to the back of the head
- Pain is more likely to occur after prolonged desk work.
People like this may have an accumulation of strain on the back of their neck.
Rather than just vigorously massaging the neck, it's important to re-examine why there's strain on the back of the neck.
Cause ②: The back is rounded, making it difficult to open the chest.
Many people who experience pain when bending their neck backward have a rounded back.
When your back is hunched over, your chest area becomes constricted, and your entire upper body tends to lean forward.
In this posture, your back won't straighten properly when you look upwards, and you're more likely to try to arch your back using only your neck.
especially,
・ Prone to slouching
- It's painful to stand tall.
- Shoulders tend to move forward
・Difficulty taking deep breaths
- My back is stiff.
If this sounds like you, the stiffness may be related not only to your neck, but also to your back and chest area.
From a chiropractic perspective, it's important to check not only the movement of the neck, but also whether the thoracic vertebrae and ribs are moving.
Cause ③ Poor movement of the shoulder blades
Neck pain and the shoulder blades are closely related.
When the area around the shoulder blades becomes stiff, the muscles from the neck to the shoulders tend to become tense.
In particular, when the shoulder blades are spread outward and the shoulders are hunched forward, it puts strain on the back of the neck and the base of the neck.
Therefore,
- The inside of the shoulder blade feels heavy.
- Shoulders tend to move forward
- Stiffness from the neck to the shoulders
- My shoulders hurt when I look up.
If this sounds like you, you also need to re-examine the position and movement of your shoulder blades.
Pain when bending your neck backward can sometimes be caused not only by problems in the neck itself, but also by stiffness around the shoulder blades.
Cause ④: Maintaining a desk work posture for extended periods.
People who spend long hours working on computers or looking at their smartphones tend to jut their necks forward.
If this posture is maintained for an extended period, the muscles at the back of the neck will be constantly stretched or supporting the neck.
As a result, when you try to tilt your neck backward, you are more likely to experience pain or discomfort in the back of your neck.
especially,
• Long hours spent working on the computer
• I spend a lot of time looking at my smartphone.
- When looking at the screen, your face is pushed forward.
・ I also have eye strain.
- Shoulder stiffness is difficult to get rid of
If this sounds like you, your desk work posture might be related to your neck pain.
If you experience pain when bending your neck backward, it's important to re-examine not only your neck's flexibility but also your posture throughout the day.
Cause 5: Nerve stimulation may also be a contributing factor.
If you experience pain or numbness not only in your neck but also in your shoulders, arms, and hands when you tilt your head back, you should be concerned.
The Japanese Orthopaedic Association explains that cervical spondylotic radiculopathy can cause pain in the shoulder and arm, as well as numbness in the fingers, and that the pain generally worsens when the cervical spine is bent backward. It is also said that it can make it difficult to look upward or gargle.
Therefore,
- When I tilt my head back, my arm goes numb.
- Pain runs from the shoulder down to the hand.
- Difficulty applying force with your hands
I feel like my senses are dulled.
- The pain is severe and interferes with daily life.
In such cases, we recommend consulting a medical professional rather than forcibly moving your neck or massaging it vigorously.
Furthermore, if you experience clumsiness with your hands or feel like you're getting tangled when walking, it could be a sign of conditions such as cervical spondylotic myelopathy, so caution is advised. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association explains that with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, you may experience clumsiness with tasks such as buttoning and unbuttoning clothes, using chopsticks, or writing, as well as a feeling of getting tangled when walking.
Things to avoid when bending your neck backward causes pain.
If bending your neck backward causes pain, be careful not to repeatedly force yourself to look upward as a stretch.
Forcing your neck to arch while experiencing pain can put even more strain on the back of your neck.
especially,
- It stings when you bend backward.
- Numbness in the arms and hands
- The pain gets worse
- It hurts at night too
- Accompanied by headache and nausea
In such cases, it is safer not to move it forcefully based on your own judgment.
If the discomfort is only slight, it's less strenuous to adjust other parts of your body, such as slowly moving your back, gently bringing your shoulder blades together, or taking deep breaths to expand your chest, rather than forcing your neck backward.
At Re・Set, we examine not only the neck but also the back and rib cage.
At Hashimoto's Re・Set chiropractic salon, for those who experience pain when bending their neck backward, we don't just massage the neck; we check the balance of the entire body.
especially,
・Neck movements
- Angle at which pain occurs
• Position of the shoulder blades
- Curling of the back
- Stiffness of the rib cage and ribs
Rounded shoulders or hunched back
• Ease of breathing
• Desk work posture
We will perform the treatment according to your needs, taking into consideration factors such as these.
Pain when bending your neck backward may be a sign that not only your neck but also your back and chest area are becoming less mobile.
"My neck hurts when I look up."
"My neck hurts when I gargle."
"I feel like the back of my neck is constricted."
"My neck hurts after doing desk work."
If that sounds like you, why not take a look at your body's balance?
If you are looking for a chiropractic clinic near Hashimoto Station, please contact Re・Set Chiropractic Salon.
*If you experience numbness in your arms or hands, weakness, severe pain, or difficulty walking, we recommend consulting a medical professional.
It hurts when I tilt my neck back.
It hurts when I tilt my neck back.
My neck hurts when I look up.
Gargling causes neck pain
The back of my neck hurts.
I have pain at the base of my neck.
Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy
My neck and arms are numb.
Poor posture, neck pain
Neck pain from desk work
Hashimoto Chiropractic Clinic
Chiropractic treatment near Hashimoto Station
Neck stiffness, chiropractic treatment, Hashimoto
